Copied from Shaun's Blog

Spin (Softening Words)

Is it a favor if you remind me you did it?
Is it free if you want something from me in exchange?
Is it mercy if you want attention for it?
Is it less honest and hurtful if I’m “just teasing?”
Is it less hot if we call it climate change?
Is it less vulgar if we call it mature?
Is it healthy because you call it “fortified” or “enriched?”
Is it less of a religion if we call it a relationship?

We play with words don’t we? Marketing permeates everything. Spin has seeped into every aspect of our lives. Is this such a bad thing if we all know to look behind the words for the real truth? Or is it dishonest even if those we communicate with know our words aren’t telling the whole story? Does the perception of the listener/reader determine whether our language, our twist on the truth, is moral?

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Happy Birthday THAD!

Today is the day! Celebrate by sending Thad an emerging birthday card! :)
Happy Birthday Bro! You must be breaking into the 3's by now!

with much love,
Mike

Happy Belated Birthday...

Mike,
I just realized that today is June 8th.....which means that your birthday was three days ago.... Sorry I missed it....again. I hope that you had a great almost 40th b-day!

Book review- not really

I have been reading the book Stories of Emergence compilled by Yoconelli. Last nights chapter was interesting. It was written by Brad Cecil. That may not be significant to you, but it is for me. I had Brad's daughter Bethany, as an AWA camper back in 98. Bethany is the grandaughter of Harry Bollback. Brad left Word of Life while at Dallas theological cemetary and started Axxess, an emerging church.

A good quote from Brad's chapter: "We have turned God into a consumer comodity, and religious leaders are the vendors. My sincere prayer is that the postmodern transition will cause a reformation in North American Christianity and that we will learn a new expression of Christianity to present to the world--a simple, humble, relational expression, people sharing life together, rocognizing our limitations, and living in faith."